Owens’ three daughters, his grandchildren and great grandchildren helped unveil the 8 foot bronze statue of Owens wearing his 4 Olympic gold medals.

OSU President E. Gordon Gee called Owens an enormous figure in an era of small minded people, an era of prejudice.

Gloria Owens Hemphill said it wasn’t easy for her father to break three world records and tie another as an OSU runner in 1935. She said it was not easy for him to stand up to Adolf Hitler in 1936, nor was it easy for him to accept fame with humility. But she said Jesse Owens inspires others to overcome obstacles and succeed.

Thursday night comedian Bill Cosby was to honor Owens at a dinner to raise money for a scholarship in his name.

Prospective Ohio drivers would see added training requirements and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles would be allowed to accept credit and debit cards under a state transportation budget that easily cleared the Ohio House on Tuesday.